Tommy Bolin

December fourth was the 29th anniversary of the death of Tommy Bolin, probably one of the most unsung musicians of our time. Even a glimpse of his musical past plunges deep into rock and roll history. James Gang and Deep Purple are probably the most recognizable band names the average reader (or listener) would relate to.

Look at the list of musicians on Teaser, Phil Collins, Jan Hammer, David Sanborn, Glenn Hughes (his soon-to-be-bandmate in Deep Purple), and Jeff Porcaro.

Here are a couple good links:

Rarebird's Tommy Bolin Reviews

Tommy Bolin Archives

Happy Holidaze!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
Happy New Year

from CyberCoder

and Mikiesoft

Thanks for reading our blogs, and stay tuned for lots more!

Springer's Holiday Tuneage

Charlie Springer created his first annual holiday tape in 1984. It was a labor of love, a collection of his favorite Christmas songs, aptly titled "Holiday Tuneage." Now it's an annual tradition on CD, each collection chock full of holiday classics, seasonal standards and one-of-a-kind tracks,
some recorded especially for this project.

As I was putting together my Christmas CD, I discovered several of Springer's tapes and CD's that I've collected from him at Warner Brothers. Mind you, these collections weren't commercially available, but some of the songs are. Some are classic, others priceless, and they're all collectible.

So today's blog is dedicated to you, Charlie. Thanks for all the memorable holiday tuneage!

Worthy of mention are:

The Malibooz "It's Just Not Christmas" from A Malibu Kind Of Christmas; you'd swear it was really the Beach Boys


"O Little Town Of Bethlehem" by Bob Rivers and Twisted Radio, from their Atlantic album I Am Santa Claus; sung to the tune of House Of The Rising Sun

The Texas Tornados "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" from Warner Brothers "A Christmas Tradition Volume III"; Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez make this Christmas classic their own

"Silent Night" by Keith Emerson; I had already mentioned Greg Lake's "I Believe in Father Christmas" in my earlier blog...so where's Palmer?

"Another Christmas Song" by Jethro Tull; I just love Ian Anderson's voice, he could sing the phone book and I'd be entertained...plus the fancy flute works!

The Kinks "Father Christmas"; I didn't know who this was at first and had to look it up. Good thing Charlie always had great liner notes, so you knew who did what

David Bowie and Bing Crosby "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" a priceless celebrity Christmas duet

"Snoopy's Christmas" by the Royal Guardsmen; heard it on the radio the other day


Enya "Oiche Chiun" ("Silent Night" sung in Gaelic) which is stunningly beautiful...formerly of the Irish group Clannad, Enya crafts a haunting rendition of this classic Christmas carol "Silent Night"

I hope yall have a Wonderful Christmas time!

Ironworks Music

When they noticed alot of great musicians who weren't getting signed to music labels and record deals, actor Kiefer Sutherland and pop artist, songwriter and producer Jude Cole, pooled their talents, built a recording studio and created Ironworks Music.

Part record label and part studio, the Ironworks Studio is housed in a historic ironworks foundry in the Silver Lake area of LA.

"We don't rent the studio out," Sutherland said. "It's literally for bands that we have developed and that we're finding. It's unbelievable how many fantastic bands there are out there that are just not being heard. We just want to make records and try to figure out how to get them out there."

Jude Cole, himself an incredible songwriter, musician and record producer, takes care of the creative end of the company, while Sutherland built the studio, acquired the building and handles everyday business.

Sutherland and Cole's shared passion for music is building a music label about real artists.


The first Ironworks Music release is Rocco Deluca's "I Trust You To Kill Me" which reminds me of a cross between Train and Led Zeppelin. The twang and flourish of Deluca's acoustic dobro guitar sometimes sounds like Jimmy Page's riffing from Zeppelin's third album or "Houses of the Holy." Listen to "Soul" if you don't believe me. It's on iTunes.

Australian artist Ry Cuming's first single "Life Goes on" was recently featured on MTV's Laguna Beach.

Jude Cole is also the Executive Producer and manager of the band Lifehouse, whose third, self-titled, release debuted on the charts at #10. The first single from the CD, "You and Me," was co-written by Cole.

Sutherland and Cole began collecting vintage guitars in the eighties and amassed an incredible collection over the years. They have over 28 new and vintage Gibson guitars including a '67 ES-335, a '65 SG Special, a '59 Les Paul Reissue and Les Paul Juniors and Specials dating from their first years of introduction ('54 and '55) up to 1959.

Veteran record producer and musician, Jude Cole, joined Warner Brother's "Extra," making it the first entertainment newsmagazine show to feature a music critic. His first assignment was an interview with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Ironworks Records http://www.ironworksmusic.com/

Jude Cole http://www.judecole.com/

Google Music Search

Have you searched for music on Google lately?

The search results may surprise you. Google Music Search has added some new features. Links to supplemental pages with more depth of information about the artist, CD track listings, complete discographies of the artist and bands, and links to online stores are appearing, now in a somewhat logical order. You can also see snippets of album and concert reviews and links to those sites.

Google is looking to expand this new feature, as it's only returning search results on fairly well known bands and artists. But they plan to branch out into more obscure performers, world music and even classical.

The links for online music stores will also grow as they get public feedback. Their blogspot talks more about it. Google admits they're "filling a need" to us, their adoring users.

It depends on who you're looking for. I did various searches and was surprised by the "new order," although it takes a little getting used to.

Google Paul McCartney and the first link brings up news, but the second link gives you albums and reviews, sorted by popularity or release date, including reviews and links to online stores.

Google Steve Winwood...same thing...news, official website, followed by VH-1, Wikipedia, Amazon.com, PBS Austin City Limits, well you get the idea...

Google Eric Johnson and the first link brings up his album page. The second link takes you to his artist website. Interesting the comparisons between legendary pop stars and Austin guitar slingers.

A Yahoo music search does nearly the same thing, but you're still having to cut through some of the fan sites that dawdle over trival pursuits.

At least they're on the right track. Now how about a snazzy name......Moogle anyone?

Top Albums of the Year 2005

It always happens this way. During December, I begin to reflect on the past year. Already in the nasty habit of making lists and checking them a hundred times, from shopping, wants, needs, and Christmas cards to send out, I browsed some of the web's music sites to get a taste of this year's Top Albums of 2005. Here's what I found...

Billboard magazine's top 10 albums of 2005 as chosen by their panel of critics:
1. My Morning Jacket, "Z" (ATO/RCA)
2. Tie: The Rolling Stones, "A Bigger Bang" (Virgin) and M.I.A., "Arular" (XL)
3. The New Pornographers, "Twin Cinema" (Matador)
4. Common, "Be" (G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen)
5. Sleater-Kinney, "The Woods" (Sub Pop)
6. Sufjan Stevens, "Illinois" (Asthmatic Kitty)
7. Tie: Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane, "At Carnegie Hall" (Blue Note/Thelonious Records) and Queens Of The Stone Age, "Lullabies To Paralyze" (Interscope)
8. Spoon, "Gimme Fiction" (Merge)
9. Tie: Jack Johnson, "In Between Dreams" (Brushfire/Universal) and Mariah Carey, "The Emancipation of Mimi" (Island Def Jam)
10. John Legend, "Get Lifted" (G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia)

Rolling Stone magazine's Top 10: (excerpted from their Top 50)
1. Kanye West, Late Registration
2. The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang
3. White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan
4. Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine
5. Bruce Springsteen, Devils and Dust
6. My Morning Jacket, Z
7. Beck, Guero
8. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
9. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
10. 50 Cent, The Massacre

Spin magazine is creating their own list of the 100 greatest albums of the past twenty years. That's how long they're been around, so it makes sense they would celebrate that milestone, rather than just this year.

Here's a list of The Top Albums of 2005 I found from a website called The Music Box
1) Neil Young - Prairie Wind ***
2) The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang
3) Cowboy Junkies - Early 21st Century Blues
4) Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs
5) Beck - Guero
6) Robert Plant - Mighty Rearranger
7) Van Morrison - Magic Time ***
8) John Doe - Forever Hasn't Happened Yet
9) Rodney Crowell - The Outsider
10) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses

And finally I found an online community called rateyourmusic that lets music lovers rate their own music and share with others. Not to be outdone, they rated their top 1000, but we'll just take a peek at the top 10.
1) Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2) Thelonious Monk - Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
3) Kraftwerk - Minimum - Maximum
4) Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago
5) Opeth - Ghost Reveries
6) Animal Collective - Feels
7) Sigur Ros - Takk...
8) Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard ***
9) Andrew Bird - Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
10) Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor

I can't quite shake this list mode I'm in, so I may come up with some others. Maybe a top ten list of the best lists?

In closing, I simply must mention this very cool list of gift ideas that Spin has on their site...my favorites are tied between the CD/DVD title printer and the Logitech Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for iPod. Cool stuff.

*** means "3 stars Jo Bob;" get this one and play it loud!

Cordless Records the Intersection of Music and Technology

Cordless Recordings is a great idea whose time has come. Just over a month old, Cordless Recordings was created by legendary music man Jac Holzman (inset picture), who founded Elektra Records back in the sixites.

You remember the guy? No? Well maybe you've heard of some of the bands that he recorded and brought to the masses. The Doors, Butterfield Blues Band, Carly Simon and Queen, to name a few. He also helped establish my old employer, the WEA distribution group, which is now the Warner Music Group, comprised of Asylum, Atlantic, Bad Boy, East/West, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Sire, Warner Brothers and Word Records.

Cordless Recordings plan on releasing groups of songs called clusters, sold only as a digital download instead of the traditional full length album or CD. This provides the artist or band a lower risk but creative environment, without the high pressure of the major labels. So it keeps costs low but provides a regular flow of music to fans, bit by bit, no pun intended.

Plus Cordless Recordings can use the considerable resources of their major label big brothers, Warner Brothers and Atlantic Records. Cordless is promoting themselves as a creative community where artists can use the latest technologies to market their music, without the pressures and worries of a major record company.

That's pretty unique in the music business. But the times they are a changin' and it's about damn time. Maybe now we'll see more local/regional artists and bands get the fair shot they deserve. And here's the really good part.

Cordless Recordings doesn't claim ownership rights to the band's recorded masters and copyrights. Yes! Artists maintain full control of their music while under contract. Cordless also pays a higher beginning royalty rate than most conventional record companies and offers far more artistic control than a traditional record deal. Rare, indeed.

See what Cordless Recordings has going on at www.cordless.com

Besides, it's hard to ignore such a creative, timely approach with artist names like Jihad Jerry & The Evildoers, Breakup Breakdown and Dangerous Muse.

Rubber Soul This Bird Has Flown

The Beatles' Rubber Soul turned forty this month. Wait...what goes on...?

This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute To The Beatles' Rubber Soul celebrates that milestone with fourteen alternative pop, folk and rock covers.

Fresh inspired interpretations abound, featuring Ben Harper, The Donnas, Fiery Furnaces, Dar Williams, Low, Yonder Mountain String Band, Mindy Smith, Sufjan Stevens, Rhett Miller (of Old 97's,) Ted Leo, Ben Lee, Ben Kweller, Nellie McKay, and The Cowboy Junkies.

My favorites are Mindy Smith's "The Word", Rhett Miller's "Girl", Ben Lee's "In My Life" and
Ben Kweller's "Wait".

Dar Williams does a great remake of "You Won't See Me", Yonder Mountain String Band delights with "Think For Yourself" and the Donnas shift into high gear with "Drive My Car".

"If I Needed Someone" is barely recognizable as done by Nellie McKay. But by and large, this is a really good tribute album by some of today's most groundbreaking artists.

On Razor and Tie Entertainment.

Cyndi Lauper's Body Acoustic

It’s great to see a performer reinvent themselves. That’s what 52-year-old Cyndi Lauper does on her new album “The Body Acoustic.” Her perky voice is both raspy and captivating as she renders a rootsy, rustic approach to acoustic reworkings of her past hit tunes.

Lauper breathes new life into her songs on collaborations with guest artists Sarah McLachlan, Adam Lazzara (from Taking Back Sunday,) Shaggy, and Ani Difranco. There’s also some great fiddle playing by Allison Cornell.

The album also contains two brand new songs co-written by Cyndi Lauper, “Above The Clouds” featuring guitar legend Jeff Beck and “I'll Be Your River” with Vivian Green.

Lauper’s duets with Sarah McLachlan on “Time After Time” and “Water’s Edge” are achingly beautiful. Her shimmering vocals on “Above the Clouds” blend nicely with Jeff Beck’s fluid guitar lines. "She Bop" has a folky down-home feel to it. "True Colors" takes me back to the MTV generation of the eighties. Ani DiFranco and Vivian Green lend vocals on "Sisters of Avalon."

The album closes with a reggae version of "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" with Japanese pop duo Puffy Ami Yumi.

Interesting Fact: Cyndi Lauper has used the mountain dulcimer in her songwriting and performing for a long time. She is a student of David Schnaufer, who played Appalachian dulcimer on Lauper's "Sisters of Avalon" in 1996.

David Schnaufer is Adjunct Associate Professor of Dulcimer at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University.

Lauper co-produced the album with Rick Chertoff, (who produced her debut album "She's So Unusual") and William Wittman (who produced "At Last" in 2003.) Cyndi Lauper is currently on tour through the end of the month.

Epic Records has produced a special package called a DualDisc, that has the entire studio CD on one side and DVD on the other. The DVD side of the DualDisc Edition has the entire album in enhanced LPCM stereo and a twenty minute featurette of interviews and four live performances of "She Bop," "Money Changes Everything," "Shine," and "Above the Clouds."

Note : Thanks to Don over at Geeky Gizmos, Gadgets, & Toys for bringing this title to our attention !

Christmas Music Part II

I'm putting together my own collection of Christmas music...obscure, off-the-beaten path, unusual type stuff and the classic standards. Over the years I've collected dozens of CD's and cassettes of various Christmas music that I'd like to share with friends and family. I've often thought about it, and this year I've decided it's about time it got done.

So it got me thinking about artists and bands that might have done a Christmas song that I've never heard or maybe didn't even know existed. We all know the ones we hear on the radio every year, like The Eagles "Please Come Home For Christmas" and Elvis' "Blue Christmas."

But Did Led Zeppelin every record or write a Christmas song? Steely Dan? The Yardbirds?

Not that I've found. But there are some very interesting recordings around. Like Dread Zeppelin's "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" which is a twisted blend of Elvis and Led Zeppelin, reggae style, with lyrics from Spike Jones' "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." James Brown threw done the holiday funk with "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto." "The Little Drummer Boy" recorded by drag queen RuPaul, for an English Christmas special in the eighties. And the Texas Tornados recorded "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" on a Warner Brothers compilation album.

Some of my favorites are "I Believe In Father Christmas" by Greg Lake (of Emerson Lake & Palmer,) later redone by rockers Honeymoon Suite, which appeared on a Warner Brothers promotional CD "Winter Warnerland."

"A Christmas Song" Jethro Tull
"All I Want for Christmas" Timbuk 3
"Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy" Buck Owens
"How Do I Wrap My Heart Up For Christmas" Randy Travis
"Merry Christmas From The Family" Robert Earl Keen

If you need a laugh during the holidaze, listen to "Walkin' Round In Women's Underwear" (sung to the tune of "Winter Wonderland") by comedy group Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio. All of their albums are hilarious spoofs on classic holiday standards with some really good band parodies. Then there's the classic "Santa Claus And His Old Lady" Cheech & Chong routine that always make me laugh.

You owe it to yourself to listen to these classics too...
R.E.M. "Deck the Halls"
The Moody Blues "What Child Is This?"
Doctor John "Silent Night"
Aaron Neville "Please Come Home For Christmas"

The twelve days of Christmas are upon us, so I'm going to keep the music playing in my head, the joy of giving in my heart and I'll try not to wreck the malls.

DVD Recommendations

If you're collecting music DVD's like I am, you've got to add these to your library...

"Concert For George" Tribute to George Harrison - 2 DVD & booklet - All Starr line up featuring Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jools Holland, Joe Brown, and Sam Brown, with Gary Brooker (keyboards), Jim Capaldi (drums), Ray Cooper (percussion), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar), Dhani Harrison (guitar), Jim Horn (tenor sax) , Jim Keltner (drums), Albert Lee (guitar) and Marc Mann (guitar). And that's just the band! The first half of the show is a special composition by Ravi Shankar with his daughter and a 16 piece orchestra. Plus a special appearance by members of Monty Python. Recorded November 29, 2002 at Royal Albert Hall. A touching tribute to George Harrison from his closest friends, doing what they do best...playing music. Amazing to hear and watch all these guys on one stage. Profits from the DVD go to The Material World Charitable Foundation, founded by Harrison in 1973.

"The Concert For Bangladesh" - The first benefit concert of its kind, organized by George Harrison, featuring him and friends Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Bob Dylan, Leon russell and Ravi Shankar. The 2 DVD set contains the original 99-minute film, restored and remixed in 5.1 surround sound. It also features 72 minutes of extras, including the documentary The Concert For Bangladesh Revisited 2005 With George Harrison And Friends, previously unseen performances, and a photo gallery. All artist royalties from DVD sales goes to UNICEF.



"Tommy and Quadrophenia Live" The Who with special guests Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Elton John, Steve Winwood, and Patti LaBelle. The drum chair is filled (at different times) by the awesome Simon Phillips and legendary Zak Starkey (yes, Ringo's son.)
The 3 DVD set spans two seperate tours. Disc one features Tommy performed in 1989 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Disc two features Quadrophenia, from their 1996-97 tour, the first time it was performed as Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey had envisioned it.
The third disc (also from the '89 concert in L.A.) is billed as "live hits" including 'Love Reign O'er Me," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Who Are You?" It's on Rhino, who are doing some really cool DVD packages lately!

"Cream Royal Albert Hall London" Recorded May 2nd through the 6th of 2005, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker reunite at London's Royal Albert Hall, the same stage where they called it quits as super group Cream in 1968. It was the first time Cream had played together in nearly four decades, with the exception of a brief reunion set at their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 2 DVD's have all the classics..."Badge," "I'm So Glad," "Crossroads," "Sunshine Of Your Love," and "White Room." Plus interviews, this is a must for any rock collection!

Anatomy of a Drum Solo - Neil Peart - To be released around mid-December, the incredible tour de force drummer for Rush describes in detail his approach to the drum solo, from the studio. It also features two full Rush performances from their 2004 tour stop in Frankfurt, Germany. The best part? It's all shot from the perspective of the drum cameras. A real plus, for us drummers trying to figure out "how does he do that?!?"

R30 - The 30th Anniversary of Rush - just released! Read the blog for details.

I did say "collection," right? These aren't as new, but they're just as good...

Crossroads Guitar Festival - Eric Clapton and friends - 2 DVD's recorded Live at the Dallas Cotton Bowl in June 2004. I was there and it was awesome! An all star cast of rock and blues pickers...Jimmie Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, James Taylor, J.J. Cale, Carlos Santana, John Mayer, John McLaughlin, Larry Carlton, Jonny Lang, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Joe Walsh, David Hidalgo and ZZ Top. Sales benefit Clapton's Crossroads Centre for addiction.



A Work In Progress - Neil Peart - Over four hours of video footage, from the studio with Neil describing his drumming approach with clips from Rush's "Test For Echo." It also features some great vintage Rush video! Only 1 DVD, but the bonus here is two booklets of drum transcriptions from "Test For Echo!" See Me...Hear Me...Read Me...Feel Me!



Party at the Palace - The Queen's concerts at Buckingham Palace - Another all star cast, mostly of british rock and pop, that celebrated her majesty's 50th year of rule in the UK. Featuring performances by Annie Lennox, Sir Cliff Richard, The Corrs, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Queen, Ray Davies, Rod Stewart, Steve Winwood, Tom Jones, and the original surfer dude Brian Wilson, along with a cast of hundreds in the choir and orchestra. A truly awesome spectacle, from the BBC (2002.)


A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles - Miramax Collector's Series 2-DVD set - This 1964 film has been called the forerunner of the modern music video. The first disc is the digitally remastered film. The second disc is a collection of interviews with the filmmakers, cast, crew and even George Martin about the music. A must have for any Beatle fan. I'm still waiting for Miramax to release "Help," "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Let It Be." And let's not forget the recent remaster of "Yellow Submarine" on DVD too.


This is Spinal Tap - One of the most outrageous, funniest rock parody films ever! I swear I had lived (and died) through some of these scenes in real life. This is an absolute must have DVD for anyone who likes rock and roll or evervpicked up a guitar. The MGM Special Edition has 5.1 sound, audio commentary (hilarious,) Rob Reiner interview, bonus footage (not to be missed,) TV commercials, heavy metal memories and four music videos. I've never laughed so hard in my life. Spinal Tap is an experience you will never forget!

Whew! That's the cream of the crop as of now, but there's lots of new releases and cool packages coming out soon, so stay tuned...

Grammy Award & Recording Academy Honors

The New York Chapter of The Recording Academy honored John Lennon (among others) last night (December 7th) for outstanding achievements and contributions that have significantly enriched the music community. Bless you, John...we remember you, especially today!

There's alot going on...A Grammy Jam will celebrate the music of Stevie Wonder on December 10th at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Some of the artists that will perform (jam style) are George Benson, Chris Brown, Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo (of Stone Temple Pilots), George Duke, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Hootie & The Blowfish, James Ingram, Randy Jackson, Keb' Mo', Aaron Neville, Slash, Angie Stone, Kirk Whalum, and of course, Stevie Wonder. Wonder has gathered 22 Grammies in his amazing career.

Rumors on the web have it that the top nominations for the upcoming Grammy awards will be Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani and Kanye West. Well, let's see...Mariah staged a comeback...50 Cent had a multiplatinum album, Coldplay was everywhere and Kanye West's second album was huge. Then there's Kelly Clarkson and the Black Eyed Peas...but it's a big club. Alot of talented and deserving artists, singers and bands never even come close to grabbing a Grammy, but there's many different award shows nowadays that recognize their talent, dedication and achievements.

Very few artists have dominated the music scene like in past years, so it doesn't seem likely that any one artist or band will garner all the awards this time. Grammy nominations will be announced this Thursday morning in New York. The Grammy Awards will take place on Wednesday, February 8th in Los Angeles.

GRAMMY awards are presented annually by The Recording Academy to honor excellence in the recording arts and sciences and for artistic or technical achievement, not sales or chart positions.

Tom Petty

The year 2006 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers album. In his interview in the current Billboard magazine, he says "it's been an incredible run" and is grateful to be where he is today. I like him because he plays great rock and roll, and has stood up over the years against higher prices for CD and concert ticket prices. He also refuses to sell out to advertisers who would "commercialize" his music.

That's a pretty rare stance these days. Especially with worldwide sales of more than 50 million
albums, four Grammy Awards, sixteen Top 40 hits and ten albums in the Top 10 Billboard charts, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Tom Petty was also one of the Traveling Wilburys with his heroes George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. That's a pretty good bit of rock and roll history right there!

Petty and the Heartbreakers also contribute a couple of great Harrison/Beatle cover songs to the "Concert for George" on DVD.

Elvis and The Beatles were early influences. His first band was the Sundowners, followed by Mudcrutch in the early 1970's. Then he and fellow Mudcrutchers Benmont Tench (on keyboards) and Mike Campbell (on guitar) formed the Heartbreakers, along with Stan Lynch on drums and Ron Blair on bass. Their debut album was released in 1976.

Tom Petty was just presented the prestigious Century Award on the Billboard Music Awards, televised on FOX-TV. Petty presented Billboard’s very first Century Award to George Harrison in 1992. He's in good company. The Century Award's past recipients include Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana, Chet Atkins, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, John Mellencamp, Sting and Stevie Wonder.

Early next year Tom Petty will release a solo album called "Highway Companion," with himself on guitar, keyboards and drums; Jeff Lynne, who was a Traveling Wilbury with Petty, and also Heartbreaker Mike Campbell, who plays an awesome slide guitar.

Petty has expanded into television; he's the voice of Lucky on the animated TV series "King of the Hill." He also hosts "Tom Petty's Buried Treasure," a weekly show on XM Satellite Radio playing classic songs, obscure cuts and live tracks.

Tom Petty is also featured on the cover of American Songwriter.

Tom Petty has been on Warner Brothers Records since 1994.

Madonna's Confessions On A Dance Floor

I remember Madonna from my WEA days. Back in the eighties, WEA was the distributor for Warner, Elektra, and Atlantic records and all their "sub-labels." Today they're the warner music group. Madonna appeared on Sire records first, then the Maverick label was born later on, from Warner Brothers.

We started at WEA the same year, 1983. That's when the Madonna self-titled debut album came out. Then CD's first appeared. And I remember getting a white vinyl LP of "Like A Virgin" a year after, because the record labels still did cool stuff like that back then. When's the last time you saw a colored vinyl LP?

Now Rolling Stone magazine says Madonna's "got her groove back!"

Madonna's new album Confessions On A Dance Floor, debuted at number one in 25 countries, including the US, UK, and Japan. Billboard magazine debuted it at number one on their Top Pop Albums. It's been called a 12-track introduction to "the art of getting down."

Her fist single "Hung Up" is number three on the iTunes website. Fans have posted rave reviews and critics have panned it. There seems to be no middle ground with "the material girl." Fans either love her or they hate her. I don't have dance fever, so I'll pass on this one.

There's a deluxe version of the album which includes a video and digital booklet of Confessions On A Dance Floor. On Warner Brothers.

John Lennon Working Class Hero

This past October was the 65th anniversary of John Lennon's birth. He was born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940, and assassinated on December 8, 1980 in New York City.

I just saw a television special a couple of weeks ago on John's assassination by Mark David Chapman. I think it was Dateline NBC. I can't help but wonder what John would be doing today. But even if he isn't here with us to create new music, there are new ways to enjoy his musical legacy.

For the first time ever, everything John Lennon did as a solo artist will be available for digital download, as of December 5th. Various digital music services will offer the Lennon catalog for download, which hopefully will capture a whole new generation of fans.

EMI Music, Parlophone and Capitol Records has captured the best of John's music with the recent release of "Working Class Hero - The Definitive Lennon." The double CD set contains 38 songs and offers the most comprehensive collection of Lennon's hit singles and key album tracks to date.

I heard John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" just the other day...


So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

I wish we could add the part about war is over.